THE SUNSHINE INDEX
Now that our days are shorter, many of us will be feeling the effects of the ‘winter blues’. This can make you feel a bit down and dreary around now. But the good news is that Anchor Butter has worked with experts - Gladeana McMahon, Psychotherapist and Social Commentator and Ian Lynch, Laughter Therapist, to develop a new ‘blues’ prevention method. We’ve called it The Sunshine Index.
It works on the principle that everyone needs to indulge in a certain number of feel-good activities each day to maintain a sunny disposition.
It’s your happiness diet for your mental and physical wellbeing
Anchor spokesperson, Caroline Baker says:
“Anchor proactively encourages people to maintain a sunny disposition all year round, and we see it as our responsibility to give people a way to do just that. The Sunshine Index will help people ward off that seasonal misery that winter can bring, and ‘free the sunshine’ when they need it most.”
Have you got the ‘winter blues’?
We’ve created a downloadable self-assessment ‘winter blues’ questionnaire for you to complete. You’ll then be able to calculate how many Sunshine points you’ll need to keep you at a safe ‘happiness level’!
DOWNLOAD YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE »PREVENTING THE WINTER BLUES
Try and practice as many of these top tips below during the week. Then at the end of the week add up your points to work out your total Sunshine score. You’re aiming for at least 400 points to ensure you keep those ‘winter blues’ at bay!
| ACTIVITY | WHY IT WORKS | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| Make someone else laugh long and hard |  Spread the sunshine! Laughter is infectious and you’ll be helping other people to ward off those winter blues. |
10 |
| Laugh loudly and heartily | Laughing releases happy chemicals that physically effect our well-being. | 8 |
| Spend time outside at the brightest point in the day |  Make sure you allow yourself some time out of the office in the daylight. Light stimulates the production of cholecalciferol, which the body transforms into vitamin D. You could invest in a day-light bulb but you can’t beat the real thing! |
6 |
| Laugh for 30 minutes in one day | 30 mins laughter can be the equivalent to a 2hr cardiovascular work out. Have a giggle and let the sunshine into your life. | 6 |
| 60 mins of exercise |  Exercising releases your body’s endorphins and eliminates stress hormones from the body. |
4 |
| Spend 60 mins interacting with friends and/or family each day | Be around people you know and love. People who have strong social support systems are more likely to deal with stressful situations more effectively. | 4 |
| Get six to eight hours uninterrupted sleep |  Your body needs time to recharge after a hard days work. A good sleep without interruptions will put you in a positive state of mind. |
4 |
| East three healthy meals in one day | Helping keep your blood sugar levels balanced and helping to regulate your mood. | 4 |
| Spend time nurturing a plant or pet |  Spending time lavishing attention on pets or plants can help reduce blood pressure and provides a sense of well-being. |
4 |
| Do something that reminds you of summertime | Put on a swimming costume at home, listen to some exotic music, have some friends round for ‘beach party’ or picnic. | 4 |
| Put aside 30 minutes relaxing ‘you’ time |  Read a book, take a walk, have a long bath... whatever you do, make sure you’re spending getting some time to yourself to take it easy and relax. |
2 |
| Make time to indulge yourself | A simple treat of hot buttered toast can do wonders for lifting your mood when its cold and miserable outside. | 2 |
| Inject some bright colours into your winter wardrobe |  The sense of achievement and satisfaction will boost serotonin levels, raising your mood. |
2 |
| Eat a home cooked meal | Helping keep your blood sugar levels balanced and helping to regulate your mood. | 2 |
How did you do?
More than 300
More than 200
More than 100
Less than 100
A very commendable effort.
Not bad.
Needs improvement.
How do you get up in the morning?
